Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

The incident was completely beyond the expectations of other countries. The United Kingdom did not participate in this trend, nor did it express any opinions. This only increased people's imagination: Britain, this is really because of South Africa, and So weak that it is difficult to mobilize troops to participate in the hunt for Africa? Or is there some energy premeditation that may explode?

And this time when European countries collectively went out to hunt Africa, the Netherlands actually maintained an amazing tacit understanding with France and Prussia, and even issued a joint statement. This even made people think that the statement was actually for the world's number one The sound of a strong maritime and economic power also hit the key points of various countries, gaining support from various countries and making Britain's position even more embarrassing.

It turns out that on July 1, 1862, France, the Netherlands, and Prussia held a meeting at the level of foreign ministers in the southern Dutch city of Rotterdam. Finally, a joint invitation letter was sent to all countries, asking them to come to Rotterdam on October 1 to discuss issues related to Africa. issues of status and the power of various countries there.

As soon as this statement came out, people immediately had an idea, that is, does it mean that Africa has not finished hunting yet? Why did the sphere of influence be mentioned all of a sudden? Also, it seems that the UK is not among the founding countries of the negotiation. If they did not participate, will the power status of each country be recognized?

Downing Street, England.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, I think we have been too indulgent towards the Netherlands and other three countries. Taking Belgium as an example, we have given a lot of benefits. We even know that the three countries are supporting South Africa behind the scenes and conducting proxy wars against us. However, But we pretended not to know and fell into a trap."

The partition of Africa this time left behind our British Empire and directly promoted the development of the situation in Europe. Should we get involved? After all, the empire's interests in North and South Africa are so huge. Now, I have a It feels like an empire is being cut up by various countries in Africa, and it seems that countries are slowly surpassing us there.

Gladstone, since he left the Tory Party in 1857 because he failed to compete with Disraeli to be the successor of the Tory Party, he directly jumped to the Whig Party, which had had similar ideas to him for many years, and became Viscount Palmerston and Russell The successor of the combination began to stand out in the British political arena, becoming the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the current British cabinet, the third-ranking figure in the British ruling party, and also becoming the opponent of Disraeli, who he had defeated before. However, the battlefield has changed from within the Tory Party to an electoral battle between the Tories and the Whigs, and the game is based on the interests of the UK and the world.

Therefore, he is now highly valued by Viscount Palmerston and has become the right-hand man of the elderly Viscount Palmerston. He has even become the manager of many cabinet affairs.

Although he had previously advocated that foreign expansion was a criminal and immoral practice, when it was his turn to become a member of the cabinet and when he was appointed Secretary of Colonial Affairs, he felt that Britain still needed to occasionally adhere to this policy to develop British diplomacy. Game.

Therefore, he acquiesced in Britain's colonial policy. Recently, looking at the actions of the Netherlands and other countries, he has changed his view. Britain can no longer be alone, and Britain should continue to expand the scope of its colonies, because, as arrogant as he is, he naturally does not think of losing. Giving it to other countries would be a sign of Britain's strength.

Having managed colonial affairs, he deeply understood that Africa was now being ravaged by European countries, which had severely damaged Britain's vitality and highlighted the arrogance of various countries. In his view, the initiators of the alliance between France, Prussia and the Netherlands had threatened Britain. status and interests in that place.

As Prime Minister, Viscount Palmerston certainly knows the inside story of some things that others don't know, and besides, there are some things that everyone knows.

Gladstone's attitude towards Ireland is still very friendly, because his grandfather is of Irish descent, and it is said that his grandfather is also a local leader. This also caused Gladstone to gain Irish descent in the UK. The support of Ireland has become one of his advantages, which is why Palmerston supports him, because the persecution suffered by Ireland in recent years requires a strong leader to appease their fragile hearts and allow them to have their own people. 'What it's like to be in a manager's UK. Let all Irish people calm down and accept their fate of being ruled by England for decades.

"When you find yourself surrounded by hungry wolves, what you need is not to run away, but to fight, because in this way you can use your energy to save yourself instead of wasting it on running away, which is useless. Of course, wolves are social animals, you can't outrun them.

The problem that Britain is facing now is similar to that of a man who encountered a pack of wolves. Britain is known as the world's most powerful industrial and naval power, and it also has the largest number of overseas colonial countries in the world. Its existence itself is a threat to the world. It is enviable to all countries, and it also attracts the jealous eyes of other countries.”

In an era when emerging powers in the world are rapidly industrializing, we need to use special methods to maintain Britain's status. Our predecessors have done a good job.

And now that we are facing such a situation, we should join the group and become a wolf in the wolf pack, rather than the person who encounters the wolf pack.

After all, under the siege of wolves, no matter how many shotguns you have in your hands, you will be dragged to death by them and exhausted. Only by becoming one of them can you seize what you want and expand the wolf pack. A fight for leadership begins, breaking them up internally.

Therefore, since France, the Netherlands and other countries are competing with the United Kingdom in Africa, and although this struggle occasionally involves British interests, it is undeniable that the United Kingdom actually seems to suffer a loss, but it makes other countries conflict in the struggle for Africa. Under the bushes, the foreshadowing was laid. Why wouldn't we let them continue a scene of internal wolf fighting over prey in Africa?"

"But Prime Minister, I'm afraid they won't be able to fight."

Gladstone is now no longer as old as 54 years old.

Viscount Palmerston increasingly admired his increasingly stable political style.

"I'm afraid that they only take money and do nothing, they are all acting."

"But, He Cang, we are not turning a blind eye." Viscount Palmerston looked like he had the wisdom in his mind, leaving Gladstone really speechless.

In this regard, he was impressed by Viscount Palmerston's calmness.

The British are now suffering numerous casualties in South Africa, and the domestic situation is rising. He is criticizing the cabinet. If it were him, he would have been restless, but Viscount Palmerston looked calm and calm. The gap in psychological quality is really huge, so I can't help but admire them.

In fact, he also felt that he seemed to be making too much fuss over the development of Britain. Over the past hundreds of years, it was not in such a situation that the opponent's moves were resolved. Britain grew up in such troubled times, and now Britain is still the first country to make a fuss. A big country has not changed. It has changed. It is just that each country has obtained a piece of land in that desolate place in Africa.

Strength still doesn't have much impact.

However, it is a fact that countries are fighting there, and it is also a fact to seize territory. It has indeed reduced the scope of Britain's colonies in the world. However, will they really fight?

But right now, the most urgent thing is that the UK needs to deal with the situation in South Africa as soon as possible.

However, is this really what they both think?

On July 20, 1862, while the colonization of African countries continued, in the Baltic Sea, the exercise plan previously agreed upon by the Netherlands and Tsarist Russia was launched.

The Netherlands dispatched the first-level sailing battleship Rotterdam, and the coordinated exercise included 4 second-level sailing battleships and 10 third- and fourth-level sailing battleships.

The Russian Empire dispatched the first-class sailing battleship St. Petersburg, and also dispatched more than 10 other battleships.

In addition, what is surprising is that Sweden also sent its only first-class sailing battleship Carl, cooperating with two third-class battleships to participate in the exercise.

Other countries such as France, Prussia, and Denmark have sent observers, and even the United Kingdom was recently invited to become one of the observers.

The exercise begins in the Baltic Sea.

Subjects such as driving away pirates, surface search and rescue, encountering strong enemies and resistance, rushing to support the front line from a long distance, coordinated and unified command of ships from multiple countries, and how to quickly and rationally utilize warships from various countries were all carried out. The exercise was finally held in the North Sea. ended, and the time span has reached July 20, 1862.

By this time, the African colonies had come to an end, and the territories occupied by various countries had been basically stabilized.

However, only in northern East Africa, after Italy encountered Prussia's preemptive occupation in Somalia, they were unwilling to occupy other places, so they returned to the Red Sea and finally set their sights on the vast land of Ethiopia in Eritrea, East Africa.

But Italy was destined to be careless this time. They did not expect that the rulers in Ethiopia would be so popular. Italy's attack of thousands of people was met with resistance, and Ethiopia's guns are also common in Europe. This is obviously the case among European countries. The most likely country to support it is Prussia.

Italy is also unlucky, because Prussia was decided by Bismarck and William I to support the Kingdom of Ethiopia and become an ally of Prussia there. After cultivating the other party into an ally of Prussia, it would be used to prevent the British from going south there. , which they learned from the current situation in South Africa. You can use it to drain the strength of other countries.

Unexpectedly, Italy had fallen into the trap first, although it had been thought that Britain had not yet taken the bait.

This made both Bismarck and William I helpless.

Can you blame them?

Is the Kingdom of Italy having bad luck?

(ps: Thank you for your support of 1,500 points for Gengah and 100 points for "Don't Forget" and "First Intention". I will continue to ask for votes and support from all the book lovers)